Lord Derby had wanted to build about 1,200 houses, a hotel, park and
ride scheme and a retail park on a 160-acre site in Newmarket,
Suffolk.

But councillors voted against the plans at a meeting last Wednesday,
after a long-running battle during which Save Historic Newmarket Action
Group used external PR help to fight the proposals.

The pressure group turned to independent PRO John Stonborough, a former
adviser to ex-House of Commons speaker Michael Martin, to advise on
strategic and tactical PR. Working with Stonborough on the PR effort to
see off the development was former Brunswick PRO Victoria Sabin.

'The people of Newmarket believed passionately that Lord Derby's
development would ruin their town and possibly their livelihood,' said
Stonborough. 'All attempts to dissuade Lord Derby had failed and the
local district council seemed hell-bent on imposing Labour housing
quotas on Newmarket, whatever the locals wanted. We had one shot and one
shot only to halt it, so we mounted a classic PR campaign for them.'

Over eight months, Stonborough and Sabin targeted local, national and
racing media and built up lobbying firepower with support from new
Conservative MP Matthew Hancock, top racing commentators including Sir
Peter O'Sullevan, John McCririck and Clare Balding, as well as legendary
trainer Henry Cecil and Derby winner Sir Michael Stoute.

Stonborough said: 'The local authority, despite being Conservative,
seemed deaf to all pleas until we were able to prove there was no need
for any more houses in the Newmarket area and it had a democratic
obligation to respect local wishes.'

Last week's meeting, when Forest Heath district councillors voted
against the plans, was so busy some people had to wait outside.